Neil Lesinski currently serves as principal of Cary-Grove High School in Cary, Illinois where he leads an incredible team of educators focused on providing a culture that supports all students. He has held prior positions as a tennis coach, English teacher, English Department Chair, Career and Technical Education Department Chair, and Director of Curriculum for District 155 in Crystal Lake. Neil is an experienced public speaker who strives to make his talks as engaging as his classroom. He has presented a variety of workshops and keynotes including Kinesthetic Literacy: Using Movement to Teach Literacy; The Keystone Habits of Successful Instructional Leaders; Habitudes: Unlocking Student Potential Through Routines; Becoming a Trauma-Informed School: Balancing Empathy With Accountability; and Literacy Equals Resilience. Neil has been a featured presenter for the Secondary Reading League, the University of St. Francis, the Illinois Principals Association, and The Council for Exceptional Children. He is passionate about providing for the whole student and believes literacy is the driving force behind developing students’ social-emotional skills through improved self awareness and empathy. His goal in any presentation is to empower his audience with new tools and mindsets to have an immediate positive impact on students.
Neil earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from Western Illinois University, his Masters in Educational Leadership from Concordia University, and is currently completing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership through Aurora University. In his free time he enjoys spending days with his son and daughter, Leo and Ella.